The FHA home mortgage program is a great home loan for Lakeland Florida home buyers looking to purchase in 2025. The FHA still requires only 3.5% for a down payment, which is perfect for buyers that have little savings for a down payment. It’s tough for most entry-level buyers to come up with the 10% or 20% down payment required by other loan programs. Below, we will discuss some important factors to determine if the FHA mortgage program is right for you.
First, you need to understand that FHA does not actually make loans. Instead, FHA (Federal Housing Administration) insures or backs the loans made by lenders and approved banks here in Lakeland. This means if the homeowner defaults, the FHA will cover most of the losses for the bank or lender.
The FHA program allows some of the easiest lending standards in the market today. The program is a great fit for first-time buyers, those with small down payments and those with less-than-perfect credit. The FHA is also not a product for everyone, and not all lenders offer FHA loans. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of FHA insured loans:
First the Pros of the FHA Program in Lakeland:
Down payment: The minimum down payment is 3.5 percent and the FHA allows the money to come from a family member, charitable organization or even an employer. In addition, new 100% FHA programs with down payment assistance are available to eligible first time buyers. Most conventional loans in Polk County require at least 5% down and require the borrower to prove he has the down payment amount.
- Interest rate: FHA loans usually offer the lowest interest rate of any program. Lenders of conventional loans see more risk in a comparable loan and, so, have a higher interest rate.
- Less than perfect credit: Applicants with credit problems, even a past bankruptcy over 3 years ago, may be able to qualify for an FHA loan. The FHA puts more emphasis on income, length of employment and job security than do lenders of conventional loans. However, the min accepted credit score for most lenders and banks is 640.
- Higher Debt-to-income ratios: The FHA allows a ratio of 29 percent — of the mortgage payment to income (divide the mortgage payment by gross monthly income.) or 41 percent of all monthly debt to income (divide all your monthly debt such as auto loans and credit card payments by gross monthly income.) Conventional loans usually only allow 28 percent and 36 percent, respectively.
- No prepayment penalty: The FHA does not allow prepayment penalties, which some conventional loans require if you pay off the loan early. This penalty is charged because lenders are trying to keep people from habitually refinancing. Usually, lenders waive the penalty if the home is sold.
- Closing costs: The FHA allows closing costs to be paid by the home seller, up to 6% which is normally enough. Some of the FHA program “con’s”
Higher mortgage insurance. FHA loans require a Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP), which is similar to the Private Mortgage Insurance charged in conventional loans with less than a 20 percent down payment. The FHA MIP requires paying 1.75 percent of the loan amount upfront (in the case of 3.5% down payment) More details on FHA mortgage insurance can be found here. PMI on conventional loans is usually less expensive.
- Loan limits. The FHA has limits on the amount that can be borrowed because the program is designed for low- to moderate-income buyers. These limits are based on where the house is located-Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, etc., counties have different loan amount limits. The loan amount limits can also change at any time, check here for the loan amount limits.
- Must be owner-occupied. An FHA loan requires the home, or one unit in a multi-family complex, be occupied by an owner. So, this program is not for investors looking to buy property to rent out.
When should a Lakeland home buyer consider an FHA loan?
Simply put, the FHA option makes sense only when there are no other alternatives. The FHA accepts applicants with lower credit scores, typically 600 or above. You can also get away with a higher debt-to-income ratio, meaning that when all your housing costs are compounded, from insurance to taxes to mortgage payments, the amount is under a certain percentage of your income. To qualify for an FHA loan, that number is about 50%, whereas with conventional loans, it might be about 38 to 40 percent, The FHA also offers loans with down payments as small as 3.5 percent, and that down payment can come from gifts from family and friends, not just your savings.
When an FHA loan is not the right choice?
Do you have 10% or more for a down payment? Do you have clean credit with a credit score over a 680? Are you looking to purchase a higher priced home over the FHA loan limits? You may be better off looking closer at the conventional mortgage. Also, remember that much of Polk County is still eligible for the 100% USDA mortgage. You may be eligible for this option, click to learn more about the USDA Mortgage here.
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